Ms. Stephanie

ABOUT the INSTRUCTOR

Stephanie Rihn, Certified ISR Instructor

Hi, I am Stephanie Rihn. I live in Castroville, Texas with my husband, Maurice. My husband is retired from his construction business and I am retired from my career as a registered nurse. We have 2 children and 5 grandchildren. One of our favorite things is spending time with our family. I was introduced to ISR Self-Rescue lessons when my grandson was a student. At the suggestion of my daughter, I watched one of my grandson's lessons and was so impressed with the skills he had learned at only 2 years old. He could swim and float to breath all on his own. I immediately realized that I wanted to teach these valuable skills to little ones to keep them safe.

I am now starting my 7th year teaching ISR and have taught hundreds of students including my four youngest grandchildren. I am very honored to serve my community by helping children become problem-solvers in the water so that "Not One More Child Drowns".

FAQs

Why are lessons 5 days per week and for only 10 minutes?

The reason for this is multifaceted. First, repetition and consistency are crucial elements of learning for young children. Research shows that short, more frequent lessons result in higher retention. Second, most children have fairly short attention spans and will not be able to focus on the task for longer and we want to take advantage of the best time for learning. A third reason is that, though the pool temperature is maintained at 78-88 degrees, the temperature is still lower than your child's body temperature. Lessons are work and therefore will also be losing body heat. Instructors check students regularly for temperature fatigue since this is an indicator of physical fatigue.

How can you teach babies and young children to swim?

ISR instructors teach infants to swim by honoring each child's individual strengths and experiences. They understand the fundamentals of the behavioral sciences, child development and of sensori-motor learning as it relates to the acquisition of aquatic survival skills; they use this education to guide each child through the sequence of learning to swim and float.

How is it that babies can learn to respond to the danger of water when they fall in?

A baby does not need to perceive danger or be afraid to respond appropriately to being underwater. If a baby has learned to roll over and float when he needs air, he doesn't need to perceive danger in order to respond in this manner. He needs skill, practice and confidence to calmly deal with the situation.

Why does it take an average of 6 weeks for my child to learn this?

The 6-week average is an estimate that is based on the average time in which it takes most children to learn these survival skills. Every child is unique and ISR’s Self- Rescue program is specifically designed based on your child’s individual strengths and needs. It is important to realize that this is an average which means that some children will actually finish more quickly while others will need more practice. ISR is dedicated to safety and, therefore, we want to provide your child with the time and best opportunity to become proficient in his/her survival skills. We will always honor your child’s needs.

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